Melissa Joan Hart was a little groggy, despite the
noontime hour and her prime-time witchy powers. The
star of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" had returned the
previous day from directing an episode of "So Weird"
for the Disney Channel. She was spending one day at
home, regrouping before heading back to the studio to
edit the episode.

Hart's latest stint as director of "So Weird's"
"Snapshot" episode had worn her out. "It fries your
brain," she says. "You're constantly thinking. The
crew is constantly throwing questions at you.
"It's insane but it's so much fun. It's like a good
workout."

She says she appreciates the difficulties of being a
director even more, now that she has done a project
away from her home turf. Her directing debut was for a
"Sabrina" episode that aired last season. "It was so
fun to do Sabrina," she says. "Everyone was so
supportive. I knew everyone, the cast, the sets."

Not true at "So Weird." Everything was so different,
right down to the technical details. "They shoot
single camera on location," she says. "Sabrina" uses
three cameras on a set. Disney has some rules, she
says, such as requiring kids to wear helmets during
certain sports.

She had to know about camera lenses for "So Weird,"
something that wasn't an issue with "Sabrina." "I'm
glad I didn't turn down the opportunity," she says,
but is sure she'll keep her day job. "I'm not planning
on quitting acting."

Not for at least two years anyway. Hart has a two-year
commitment to continue with "Sabrina," now that it's
moving to The WB this fall from its Friday night home
on ABC. Sabrina is going off to college next season,
but other than that, the stories will be much the
same, Hart says. "We'll see more advertising, which
will be great. WB will put up billboards and really
promote it."

Playing a teenage witch appears to fit perfectly with
Hart's personality. "I love to be funny and make
people laugh," she says. "Sabrina is a real girl with
extraordinary powers and some good lines."

But does she like being a goofy witch day in and day
out? "Sabrina? I love it! It's the best job in
Hollywood," she says, ticking off the qualities of
steady work, a cast and crew who have fun together on
the set and off, and a plot that isn't marked as
cutting edge.

"The best compliment I've gotten from parents is,
'This is the only show we can watch with our kids."'

Television.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO: Melissa Joan Hart and her talking
black cat are moving to The WB this fall.